Vacation Homes

Snowbirds find golf paradise

Winter? What winter? Dunes Club residents get to relax around a large swimming pool surrounded by palm trees.

Photograph by: Courtesy
, Dunes Club

For Trevor and Eunice Smith, the idea of a relaxing getaway used to be carving the ski slopes near their property in Fernie, B.C.

But as the Calgary couple’s preferences shifted from ski poles to golf clubs, it made sense to look south of the border in California.

On a visit to a golf show last year, the Calgarians learned about their new holiday destination.

The Dunes Club is a Palm Springs-area retreat with 20 single-storey units.

Golf is a major draw, with the club partnering with the neighbouring Bermuda Dunes Country Club.

Ownership at the Dunes Club includes a membership to the historic golf course. Bermuda Dunes is the original home of the PGA’s Bob Hope Classic.

The couple bought a 1/12th ownership in a two-bedroom unit in The Dunes.

“If you’re a golfer, this is a great place to be,” says Trevor, a retired construction cost consultant.

In addition to playing the greens, the Smiths like the fact that Palm Springs is only a two-and-a-half hour flight from Calgary.

With that being said, they plan to enjoy the scenic drive to the Dunes this May.

Units in the development are fully-equipped and furnished and are available in both one- and two-bedroom models.

They include granite countertops, Italian travertine flooring and stainless steel appliances. Residents looking to stay in shape while on their holiday can make use of the club’s fitness centre and large pool.

For convenience, club services help residents get a head start on their food needs prior to their arrival.

“Before the residents come down from Calgary, a lot of them go online and order their food from one of the better markets here,” says project director Steve Roseman of the Dunes Club. “When it is delivered, the staff stocks their refrigerators and their cabinets.”

Club services also include a weekly cleanup, as well as making dinner reservations and tee times for its members.

“Another nice detail is when they leave, we give them a container and they can put in all their spices from the kitchen and bathroom items and we store it for them until their next trip and put it in their residences,” says Roseman.

Some of the residences are pet-friendly, allowing for small dogs. Other units cater to those with pet allergies and disallow animals.

Empty nesters with a passion for golf make up the majority of the residents at the club.

“It is a very good group of people,” says Roseman.

“At least one spouse plays golf. In most cases, both spouses play golf. A good portion are business owners.

“(From) Calgary, we have four educators from the school system.”

With Dunes not being an overly large development, residents become a close-knit community.

“It’s a small, boutique style property,” says Roseman. “People don’t get lost here like with some gigantic developments.”

The club also has unofficial social directors who organize pickup dinners and cocktail parties, he says.

“It’s a great social environment because of the commonality of the people.”

As a whole, Canadian interest in the Dunes is picking up steam, says Roseman.

“It’s getting stronger and stronger,” he says, adding that the strength of the Canadian dollar has influenced the club’s Canuck content.

Many of the members belong to private clubs in Canada and are seeking a similar experience on their getaway, he says.

For Canadians, escaping the chill during winter months is also a factor.

“As beautiful of a country that you have, there are a couple of months out of the year where some people want to get away,” says Roseman.

The prospect of a balmy escape is another one of the reasons the Smiths looked to Palm Springs.

“Calgary in the summer, generally speaking, is really quite good,” says Trevor. “We like to stay here and play golf in the summer time, so it’s nice to get away in the winter to some place warm.”

Sunny conditions, combined with the area’s unique topography, make for an ideal hiking experience — something the Smiths say they look forward to on their next trip to the Dunes.

“I think there are some pretty good walking trails around there,” says Trevor.

“We haven’t been to Joshua Tree, but we will probably go next time we go down.”

Joshua Tree National Park is a 47-kilometre drive from Palm Springs.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Project: The Dunes Club consists of 20 single-storey units next to the historic Bermuda Dunes Country Club.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Househunting Newsletter

Receive the latest in real estate news, decorating and renovating tips every two weeks in the househunting.ca newsletter.